IMD Forecasts Colder Nights and Cold Wave Until January 5th
IMD predicts colder nights and cold wave conditions across North India until January 5th.
Photo by Brian Yurasits
Here's the key point: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast colder nights and cold wave conditions across North India, particularly Delhi-NCR, until January 5th. Minimum temperatures are expected to hover between 6-9 degrees Celsius, with some areas experiencing 'cold day' conditions where maximum temperatures are also significantly low. This weather pattern is attributed to a lack of strong Western Disturbances, which typically bring rain and snow, preventing temperatures from dropping sharply.
Why does this matter? Such prolonged cold waves can have significant impacts on public health, agriculture (especially vulnerable crops), and energy demand. For UPSC, understanding IMD's role, weather phenomena like Western Disturbances, and their socio-economic impacts is crucial for GS1 (Geography) and GS3 (Disaster Management/Environment).
मुख्य तथ्य
IMD forecasts colder nights and cold wave until January 5
Minimum temperatures expected between 6-9 degrees Celsius
Lack of strong Western Disturbances contributing to dry, cold conditions
Delhi recorded its coldest December day in 2023 since 2014
AQI in Delhi expected to remain 'very poor' to 'severe'
UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Geographical phenomena: Western Disturbances, cold wave, cold day definitions, temperature inversion.
Institutional roles: IMD's mandate, forecasting, and warning systems.
Socio-economic impacts: Agriculture (rabi crops), public health, energy demand, disaster management.
Climate change/variability: Potential links between changing WD patterns and global atmospheric circulation.
दृश्य सामग्री
IMD Cold Wave Forecast: North India (Jan 2026)
This map illustrates the regions in North India, including Delhi-NCR, currently under cold wave and cold day conditions as forecasted by IMD until January 5th, 2026. It also shows the typical path of Western Disturbances, whose absence is contributing to the severe cold.
Loading interactive map...
और जानकारी
पृष्ठभूमि
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast prolonged cold wave conditions across North India, particularly Delhi-NCR, until January 5th. This unusual cold spell, characterized by significantly low minimum and maximum temperatures ('cold day' conditions), is primarily attributed to the lack of strong Western Disturbances.
Typically, WDs bring cloud cover and precipitation, which prevent temperatures from dropping sharply, acting as a 'blanket'. Their absence leads to clear skies, allowing for greater radiative cooling and thus colder nights and days.
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding Western Disturbances (WDs) and their impact on India: 1. Western Disturbances are extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region. 2. They are primarily responsible for winter rainfall in the Gangetic plains and snowfall in the Himalayan region. 3. The absence of strong Western Disturbances typically leads to warmer winter nights in North India. 4. They are associated with the westerly jet stream.
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: B
Statement 1 is correct: Western Disturbances are extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean Sea. Statement 2 is correct: They bring winter rainfall to the plains of North and Northwestern India (including parts of the Gangetic plains) and snowfall to the Himalayas. Statement 3 is incorrect: As per the news and general climatology, the absence of strong WDs leads to clear skies, allowing for greater radiative cooling, resulting in colder winter nights and days, not warmer. Statement 4 is correct: Western Disturbances are steered by the subtropical westerly jet stream.
2. With reference to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and its weather advisories, consider the following statements: 1. The IMD functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 2. A 'Cold Wave' condition is declared when the minimum temperature is 4.5°C to 6.4°C below normal, or when the minimum temperature drops to 4°C or less in plains. 3. A 'Cold Day' condition is declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5°C to 6.4°C below normal, provided the minimum temperature is also below 10°C in plains. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1 is correct: The IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. Statement 2 is correct: IMD's criteria for a 'Cold Wave' include a departure of minimum temperature from normal by 4.5°C to 6.4°C (or more), or when the minimum temperature drops to 4°C or less in the plains. Statement 3 is correct: A 'Cold Day' is declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5°C to 6.4°C below normal (or more), and the minimum temperature is also below 10°C for plains stations.
3. In the context of cold wave conditions in North India, which of the following statements correctly explains the role of temperature inversion? 1. Temperature inversion traps cold air near the surface, preventing its vertical mixing with warmer air above. 2. It is often exacerbated by clear skies and calm winds, leading to dense fog formation. 3. The absence of Western Disturbances contributes to temperature inversion by reducing cloud cover. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: D
Statement 1 is correct: Temperature inversion is a meteorological phenomenon where a layer of cool air is trapped beneath a layer of warmer air, preventing vertical mixing. This keeps pollutants and cold air near the ground. Statement 2 is correct: Clear skies allow for maximum radiative cooling of the surface, and calm winds prevent the mixing of air, both of which are conducive to the formation and strengthening of temperature inversions, often leading to dense fog. Statement 3 is correct: Western Disturbances bring clouds and precipitation. Their absence means clear skies, which facilitate greater radiative cooling of the surface, leading to stronger temperature inversions and thus more intense cold and fog.
संबंधित लेख
नौ बोत्सवाना चीते कुनो पार्क में छोड़े गए
मच्छरों ने 1.8 मिलियन वर्ष पहले होमिनिन को काटना शुरू किया: अध्ययन
दिल्ली एनसीआर के लिए केवल ईवी पर बहस पर कार निर्माता, सीएक्यूएम आमने-सामने
एनजीटी में विशेषज्ञों के लिए जगह, उनमें से ज्यादातर अब पूर्व सरकारी अधिकारी हैं
भारत को आज बोत्सवाना से आठ चीतों का नया जत्था मिलेगा